Network Rail has today launched a new property development company, Platform4, to accelerate regeneration on land connected to the rail network and boost housing delivery in towns and cities across England and Wales.
Formed by merging London & Continental Railways with Network Rail’s existing Property Development business, Platform4 is being positioned as the organisation that will lead infrastructure-led redevelopment of brownfield railway sites – from disused goods yards to land around major stations. Network Rail says the new entity brings together property, infrastructure and operational rail expertise to support its regional routes and wider partners.
Platform4 has a nationwide pipeline covering 47 towns and cities and 22 London boroughs and has set a 10-year ambition to enable 40,000 new homes and 929,000m2 of commercial space. The company also aims to deliver significant public and community space and to generate around £1bn a year in public value.
Network Rail highlighted past delivery figures to bolster the case for consolidation: the two development teams involved have helped deliver more than 7,000 homes in the past year and Network Rail’s retail estate recorded over £914M in sales across 19 managed stations in the last financial year.
Four sites have already been named as early priorities under Platform4: Newcastle Forth Goods Yard, Manchester Mayfield, Cambridge and Nottingham. Together these projects are expected to yield more than 2,700 homes:
- Newcastle Forth Goods Yard: up to 600 homes on site, with potential to unlock a further 2,500 homes nearby (pictured);
- Manchester Mayfield: an opportunity for around 1,500 homes on the former station site;
- Cambridge: a mixed‑use scheme with about 425 homes;
- Nottingham: 200 new homes following the delivery of 348 homes at The Barnum development.
Network Rail says Platform4 will also retain responsibility for a portfolio of commercial real estate and will cooperate with Routes and Regions across England and Wales, and on selected projects in Scotland, to align property objectives with operational needs.
The move comes as central and local government seek to increase housing supply while prioritising brownfield regeneration and better use of transport-linked land. Using rail‑adjacent land for housing and commercial development can reduce pressure on greenfield sites and support transit‑oriented growth, but projects often require complex coordination between infrastructure managers, local authorities, developers and transport planners.
Critics of property-led regeneration typically point to risks over affordability, the timing of infrastructure delivery and the potential for community displacement. Network Rail says Platform4 will aim to deliver social, environmental and commercial benefits “for generations”, but will need to work with councils and communities to secure planning consents, affordable housing contributions and transport capacity upgrades.
Platform4 chief executive officer Robin Dobson said: “Our railways once powered the first industrial revolution. Today they hold the key to the next. By unlocking and regenerating brownfield land within the rail estate, we will generate further investment, create jobs through the delivery of homes, commercial space and new communities, whilst supporting the government housing agenda.”
Network Rail chief executive Jeremy Westlake added: “Today marks a significant milestone as we combine the power of rail and our significant property portfolio to shape communities and drive positive change. Platform4 will help ensure the railway estate continues to deliver value for both the economy and our communities.”
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